Formerly
in Scotland a person who rode a pyat or pie-bald, horse was
supposed to be endowed with a super-natural power to cure
the chin-cough. I recollect a worthy friend of mine, who rode
a horse of this description, told me, that he used to be pursued
by people running after him out of every village and hamlet
through which he passed, bawling, "Man wi' the pyatie
horse, what's gude for the kink-host?"
" But," he added, "I ay gied them a prescription
that I was sure would do them nae harm. I bad them gie the
bairn plenty o' sugar-candy."
-Jamieson.